BBC Sport - Football - Wolves 3-2 Sunderland (original) (raw)

Wolverhampton 3 - 2 Sunderland

Wolves celebrate their first goal before the late drama saw them grab the win

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake scored a stunning last-minute winner as struggling Wolves came from behind to beat Sunderland.

A Kieran Richardson free-kick hit the post but Wolves took the lead after the break when Kevin Foley fired home.

Sunderland hit back with two goals as Darren Bent poked in and Danny Welbeck nodded in Phil Bardsley's cross.

Back came Wolves with Stephen Hunt crashing in the equaliser to set up the late drama with substitute Ebanks-Blake firing in from inside the box.

It was an astonishing finale to a lively encounter with Ebanks-Blake grabbing the winner having only arrived on the pitch nine minutes earlier.

The victory was only Wolves' third of a stuttering Premier League campaign, but will help to vindicate chief executive Jez Moxey's pre-match assertion that he had every confidence in boss Mick McCarthy.

Mixed emotions cause McCarthy stress

And although they remain three points from the safety zone McCarthy will be mighty relieved having witnessed his team take the lead, then trail soon after only to secure the spoils through two late strikes.

Having lost his last four league games, McCarthy was desperate to shore up the Wolves defence and replaced Marcus Hahnemann in goal with Wayne Hennessey. Initially, though, the changes made little difference as his players struggled on a tricky surface against opponents beaten once in their previous 12 league games.

The pace of Bent shocked the hosts' defence and he picked up Jordan Henderson's through-ball before shooting straight into the arms of a grateful Hennessey. A minute later they again went close when Boudewijn Zenden shot just wide.

The hosts finally got to grips with the conditions and only wasteful finishing and a referee assistant's flag denied them the lead.

Firstly Kevin Doyle was left unmarked inside the box but could only fire over the target and then Richard Stearman's premature celebrations were cut short as he was ruled offside having poked in defender George Elokobi's shot.

Elokobi was again involved but at the other end as his handball led to Sunderland's best chance of the first period.

Richardson confidently took the responsibilities for the free-kick on the edge of the box as he curved in a delightful shot that rebounded away off the inside of the left-hand post.

McCarthy may have ended the first half looking increasingly agitated, but the smile returned five minutes after the break when he saw his battling team grab a deserved opener.

The impressive Matt Jarvis burst down the left and his shot was punched away by Craig Gordon, with Foley following up to bury the ball smartly and powerfully with his left foot.

Bruce laments 'awful' defending

However, the miserable record of being the only team in the Premier League without a clean sheet was to be extended as Sunderland hit back and it was thanks to the head of substitute Asamoah Gyan.

The Ghana striker, on for only 12 minutes, flicked a clearance into the path of Bent and, with defender Stearman unable to hold off the England international, the ball was soon slotted into the net for the equaliser.

Worse was to follow for the hosts as Sunderland grabbed the lead when defender Bardsley curled in the ball from the left and Welbeck leapt above the static defence to nod in his fourth in three games.

With chances at both ends, Wolves grabbed an equaliser four minutes later when Elokobi's header fell to substitute Hunt who bundled the ball in from 10 yards.

McCarthy may well have settled for a point at that stage but his players wanted more and were rewarded when Ebanks-Blake blasted in after being set up by Doyle.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy hails the club's supporters:
"They have stuck with us and they stuck with us today. At 2-1 it would have been so easy to turn on the team, but they didn't and I think they didn't because the players have showed such good application and spirit."

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce:
"If we defend like that, then it is going to be a tough winter for us again because defensively, individual mistakes have cost us the game.

"We have defended rock solidly [in previous games], not just as individuals but as a team. The back four were busy today and were nowhere near the requirement needed. You can't come here and concede three goals - it's sacrilege, and that's no disrespect to Wolves."

Live text and stats

Saturday, 27 November 2010

Barclays Premier League

WOLVES

SUNDERLAND

Possession

• Wolves 45%
• Sunderland 55%

Attempts on target

• Wolves 8
• Sunderland 9

Attempts off target

• Wolves 6
• Sunderland 6

Corners

• Wolves 11
• Sunderland 5

Fouls

• Wolves 11

• Sunderland 10

• Final Result

• Full Time

• 90:00+4:14 The referee blows for the end of the match.

• 90:00+3:13 Lee Cattermole fouled by Kevin Foley, the ref awards a free kick. Kieran Richardson produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save by Craig Gordon.

• 88:40 Assist by Kevin Doyle.

• 88:40 GOAL - Sylvan Ebanks-Blake:Wolverhampton 3 - 2 Sunderland Sylvan Ebanks-Blake finds the net with a goal from inside the box to the top left corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 3-2 Sunderland.

• 84:42 Lee Cattermole takes a shot. Save by Wayne Hennessey. Ahmed Elmohamady takes a outswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Kevin Doyle.

• 83:41 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.

• 83:11 Asamoah Gyan is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Wayne Hennessey.

• 82:23 Substitution Ahmed Elmohamady comes on in place of John Mensah.

• Correction - 80:51 Assist on the goal came from George Elokobi. Save by Craig Gordon.

• 80:51 Assist on the goal came from George Elokobi. Save made by Craig Gordon.

• 80:51 GOAL - Stephen Hunt:Wolverhampton 2 - 2 Sunderland Stephen Hunt scores a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 2-2 Sunderland.

• Correction - 79:58 Handball decision goes against Steed Malbranque. The ball is sent over by Matthew Jarvis, George Elokobi takes a shot.

• 79:58 Steed Malbranque is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Centre by Matthew Jarvis, Kevin Doyle takes a shot. George Elokobi takes a shot.

• 79:23 Stephen Hunt takes a shot. Phillip Bardsley gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Matthew Jarvis from the left by-line to the near post, Darren Bent makes a clearance.

• 79:23 Substitution (Wolverhampton) makes a substitution, with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake coming on for Michael Mancienne.

• 78:42 Kevin Doyle fouled by John Mensah, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Nenad Milijas.

• 78:42 Booking John Mensah goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

• 77:36 Foul by Nenad Milijas on Danny Welbeck, free kick awarded. Craig Gordon takes the direct free kick.

• 76:18 Assist by Phillip Bardsley.

• 76:18 GOAL - Danny Welbeck:Wolverhampton 1 - 2 Sunderland Danny Welbeck finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the penalty box. Wolverhampton 1-2 Sunderland.

• 75:03 Corner taken by Matthew Jarvis from the left by-line to the near post, Darren Bent makes a clearance.

• Correction - 73:41 Steed Malbranque takes a shot. Wayne Hennessey makes a save. Corner taken left-footed by Kieran Richardson, clearance made by Kevin Doyle.

• 73:41 Steed Malbranque takes a shot. Save by Wayne Hennessey. Corner taken left-footed by Kieran Richardson, clearance by Kevin Doyle.

• 71:46 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Stephen Hunt from the right by-line, Craig Gordon makes a save.

• 71:17 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Stephen Hunt from the right by-line to the near post, Darren Bent makes a clearance.

• 70:28 Steed Malbranque gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ronald Zubar. Direct free kick taken by Wayne Hennessey.

• 69:11 Effort on goal by Darren Bent from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

• 66:22 Assist on the goal came from Asamoah Gyan.

• 66:22 GOAL - Darren Bent:Wolverhampton 1 - 1 Sunderland Goal scored by Darren Bent from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 1-1 Sunderland.

• 65:55 Foul by Kevin Doyle on John Mensah, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Craig Gordon.

• 65:16 Asamoah Gyan takes a shot. George Elokobi gets a block in. Effort on goal by Danny Welbeck from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

• Correction - 64:54 Asamoah Gyan takes a shot. George Elokobi gets a block in. Danny Welbeck has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.

• 63:51 Unfair challenge on Danny Welbeck by Stephen Ward results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Kieran Richardson from right wing.

• 63:14 Effort from the edge of the box by Matthew Jarvis goes wide of the right-hand upright.

• 61:51 Substitution Stephen Hunt comes on in place of David Jones.

• 59:39 Phillip Bardsley takes a shot. Michael Mancienne gets a block in. Kieran Richardson takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Kevin Doyle.

• 57:01 Unfair challenge on Danny Welbeck by Nenad Milijas results in a free kick. John Mensah restarts play with the free kick.

• 56:35 Kevin Doyle takes a shot. Save by Craig Gordon.

• 54:50 Lee Cattermole has an effort at goal from outside the box which misses left.

• 54:50 Substitution Boudewijn Zenden leaves the field to be replaced by Asamoah Gyan.

• 54:50 Substitution Steed Malbranque is brought on as a substitute for Jordan Henderson.

• 53:25 Unfair challenge on Lee Cattermole by Ronald Zubar results in a free kick. Jordan Henderson crosses the ball in from the free kick. Darren Bent takes a shot. Blocked by George Elokobi. Inswinging corner taken by Boudewijn Zenden.

• Correction - 51:34 Danny Welbeck takes a shot. Blocked by Richard Stearman.

• 51:34 Danny Welbeck takes a shot. Richard Stearman gets a block in.

• 51:32 Inswinging corner taken by Boudewijn Zenden.

• 49:19 Matthew Jarvis takes a shot. Assist by Matthew Jarvis. Save by Craig Gordon.

• 49:19 GOAL - Kevin Foley:Wolverhampton 1 - 0 Sunderland Kevin Foley fires in a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 1-0 Sunderland.

• 45:58 Ronald Zubar has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses right.

• 45:01 The match restarts for the second half.

• Half Time

• 45:00+3:27 The match has reached half-time.

• 45:00+1:45 Kevin Doyle fouled by Kieran Richardson, the ref awards a free kick. Kevin Foley restarts play with the free kick.

• 45:00+1:45 Booking Kieran Richardson goes into the referee's book.

• 45:00+0:59 Foul by Danny Welbeck on Ronald Zubar, free kick awarded. Wayne Hennessey restarts play with the free kick.

• 45:00+0:07 Matthew Jarvis takes a shot. Save made by Craig Gordon.

• 44:20 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Matthew Jarvis from the left by-line, Craig Gordon makes a save.

• 40:45 Free kick awarded for a foul by Nenad Milijas on Anton Ferdinand. Craig Gordon takes the free kick.

• 39:19 Foul by David Jones on Lee Cattermole, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Anton Ferdinand.

• 36:50 Header on goal by David Jones from just inside the area goes over the goal.

• 34:05 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kevin Doyle by Lee Cattermole. Richard Stearman restarts play with the free kick.

• 34:05 Booking Lee Cattermole goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

• 32:01 Matthew Jarvis takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post.

• 30:44 Anton Ferdinand concedes a free kick for a foul on Kevin Doyle. David Jones takes the direct free kick.

• 29:14 George Elokobi is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Kieran Richardson produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

• 29:14 Booking George Elokobi booked.

• 27:56 Nenad Milijas fouled by Danny Welbeck, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Nenad Milijas.

• 26:40 Matthew Jarvis is flagged offside by the assistant referee. John Mensah takes the free kick.

• 22:20 Free kick awarded for a foul by Stephen Ward on Darren Bent. John Mensah restarts play with the free kick.

• 21:41 Corner taken by Matthew Jarvis from the left by-line. Richard Stearman is caught offside. Craig Gordon restarts play with the free kick.

• 21:41 Booking Stephen Ward shown a yellow card.

• 20:48 The assistant referee signals for offside against Darren Bent. Indirect free kick taken by Richard Stearman.

• 19:26 David Jones concedes a free kick for a foul on Craig Gordon. Free kick taken by Craig Gordon.

• 17:46 The assistant referee flags for offside against Kevin Doyle. Craig Gordon takes the free kick.

• 16:50 Boudewijn Zenden is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Michael Mancienne takes the free kick.

• 15:51 Kevin Doyle produces a left-footed shot from inside the area that clears the bar.

• 15:08 Ronald Zubar fouled by Lee Cattermole, the ref awards a free kick. Wayne Hennessey restarts play with the free kick.

• 13:45 Corner taken by Matthew Jarvis played to the near post.

• 12:58 Corner taken by Matthew Jarvis played to the near post, Darren Bent manages to make a clearance.

• 12:03 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nenad Milijas by Jordan Henderson. Nenad Milijas takes the free kick.

• 11:02 The assistant referee flags for offside against Kieran Richardson. Wayne Hennessey takes the free kick.

• 9:40 Boudewijn Zenden produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses right.

• 8:55 The referee blows for offside against Matthew Jarvis. Craig Gordon takes the indirect free kick.

• 7:57 Free kick awarded for a foul by Anton Ferdinand on Kevin Doyle. Free kick taken by Richard Stearman.

• 7:40 Darren Bent takes a shot. Save by Wayne Hennessey.

• 5:27 Corner from the right by-line taken by David Jones, Anton Ferdinand fouled by Richard Stearman, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Craig Gordon.

• 5:02 Corner taken left-footed by David Jones.

• 3:31 The assistant referee signals for offside against Darren Bent. Free kick taken by Nenad Milijas.

• 0:12 The assistant referee signals for offside against Kevin Doyle. Anton Ferdinand takes the free kick.

• 0:00 The game kicks-off.

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